relaxation

5/31/14: This week on "The Plant Detective:" The rhizome of Zingiber officinale is eaten as a spice, a medicine, and a delicacy. It's an old remedy for nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, and the common cold. It's also used to help digestion. And although further research is needed, a 2011 review of scientific literature found that ginger appears to be promising for cancer prevention.

3/22/14: This week on "The Plant Detective:" Valerian is a powerful agent for relaxation and sleep, with no dangerous side effects. In the past, aggression, epilepsy, shell shock and hysteria were all treated with valerian.